CLEVELAND — Daniel “Boobie” Gibson’s expected return from a sprained ankle got put on hold.
The second-year guard, who hasn’t played since Feb. 20, was not in uniform Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena against the New Orleans Hornets, but should play Saturday at Detroit.
The delay not only gave Gibson two more off days to prepare before the Pistons game, it meant his first game back didn’t have to come against lightning-quick Chris Paul.
“He practiced (Tuesday) and didn’t come out, but (team doctors and trainers) felt it would be good to give him tonight (to rest), also,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “I think it’s the right thing.”
The Cavaliers were also without starting power forward Ben Wallace, who missed his second straight game with back spasms. It’s not known when Wallace will return.
“I don’t want to rush him back and have his back start acting up,” Brown said. “I’m going to be patient with that and wait until the training staff tells me he’s ready to play.”
The Cavaliers have 10 games left in the regular season and Gibson hasn’t played with recent acquisitions Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and Joe Smith, but Brown isn’t panicking.
“We still have to figure out team chemistry and rotations and all that other stuff,” he said. “If I feel it’s right for those guys to play and the training staff feels it’s right, those guys are going to play. We’re going to get it done, but it makes it a little more challenging.”

West is best

The Cavaliers began the night with a 40-31 record, which put them fourth in the Eastern Conference. That mark, however, would have been 10th in the West.
New Orleans came in first in the West with a 48-21 record, which put it percentage points ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (49-22). Only 1½ games separated the top six teams and only six games separated the top nine.

LeBron fourth

The NBA Store in New York City is tipping off its 10th anniversary celebration by unveiling the most popular-selling jerseys since its Sept. 18, 1998, opening. Michael Jordan tops the list, followed by Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and the Cavaliers’ LeBron James.
The rest of the top 10 is Shaquille O’Neal, Tracy McGrady, Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Tim Duncan.

Hornets’ nest

New Orleans power forward David West entered the game averaging 31.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in his last three outings. He had 35 points and 16 rebounds Monday in a win over Indiana.
Paul, who will likely finish third in MVP voting behind Bryant and James, is averaging 21.7 points and a league-best 11.2 assists.
“Today, he’s the best point guard in the league, in my eyes,” James said. “He controls that team and he controls that system. Without him, they wouldn’t be the No. 1 team in the West.”
Paul was averaging 25.3 points and 12.8 assists in March, a large reason why the Hornets entered Wednesday 9-2 in their last 11 games. That tied Philadelphia for the best mark in the league over that span.
“He’s phenomenal,” Brown said. “You’ve got to think about how much that ball is in his hands. He scores and he controls the tempo.”

Joe the Great

Cavaliers radio play-by-play announcer Joe Tait, who called his 3,000 game in a 36-year career with the franchise, was honored throughout the evening.
“He means just as much to this franchise as the guys on the team,” James said. “I’m honored to be a part of it.”

A Curry fan

James is a huge fan of Davidson guard Stephen Curry, the son of former Cavaliers guard Dell Curry.
Asked if Curry was big enough to play in the NBA, James said, “If you can play the game of basketball, you have a spot in the NBA. He has a spot.”

Selling out

The Cavaliers entered Wednesday night ranked third in the league in attendance. They are averaging 20,460 fans (20,562 capacity) and had sold out 27 of their 34 games at The Q.
Contact Rick Noland at (330)
721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net. 

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